Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-01
Union Linked With Liberty.

Without Union, our independence
and liberty would never have been
achieved; without Union, they can new
er be maintained. Divided into twenty.
four, or even a smaller number of sep
arate communities, we shall see our
internal trade burdened with number
less restraints and exactions; COM
munication between distant points and
sections obstructed, or cut off; our
sons made soldiers, to deluge with
blood the fields they now till in peace !;
the mass of our people borne down
and impoverished by taxes to support
armies and naviss; and military lead
ers,. At the head Of their victorious le-
gions, becoming our lawgivers and
judges. The loss Of liberty, of all good
government, Of peace, plenty, and
happiness, must inevitable follow q dis
solution Of the Union. In supporting
it therefore, we support all that is dear
to the freeman and the philanthropist.
The time at which l stand before
you is full Of interest. The eyes Of all
nations are fixed on our Republic. The
event of the existing crisis will be de-
cisive, in the opinion of mankind, Of
the practicability of our Federal sys-
tenn of Government. Great is the
stake placed in our hands; great is the
responsibility which must rest upon
the people Of the United States. Let
US realize the importance of the atti-
tude in which we stand before the
world. Let us exercise fOrbearance
and firmnes. Let US extricate our
country from the dangers which sur
round it, and learn wisdom from the
lessons they inculcate. Deeply inn
pressed with the truth Of these Obser-
vations, and under the obligation Of
that solemn oath which am about to
take, ! shall continue to exert all my
faculties to maintain the just powers
of the Constitution, and to transmit
unimpaired to posterity the blessings
Of our Federal Union.
At the same time it will be my aim
to inculcate, by my official acts, the
necessity Of exercising, by the General
Government, those powers only that
are clearly delegated; TO encourage
simplicity and economy in the expen-
ditures Of the Government; to raise
no more money from the people than
may be requisite for these objects, and
in . manner that will best promote
the interest Of all classes Of the COM
munity, and of all portions Of the
Union. Constantly bearing in mind
that, in entering into society, "individ-
uals must give up share Of liberty to
preserve the rest" it will be my de-
desire so to discharge my duties as to
foster with our brethern, in all parts
of the country, a spirit of liberal con-
cession and compromise; and, by re-
cOnciling our fellow-citizens to those
partial sacrifices which they must un-
avoidably make, for the preservation
of greater good to recommend our
invaluable Government and Union to
the confidence and affections of the
American people. Finally, it is my
most fervent prayer to that Almighty
Being before whom l now stand, and
who has kept us in his hands from the
infancy Of our Republic to the present
day, that he will SO overrule all my in
tentions and actions, and inspire the
hearts Of my fellow-citizens, that We
may be preserved from dangers of all
kinds, and continue forever a UNITED
AND HAPPY PEOPLE.
ANDREW JACKSON.